Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), has called on warring sides in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to reach a ceasefire immediately to allow “safe and sustained” access for medical teams as Ebola ravages the Central African country.
The country is currently battling with what he called a “catastrophic collision” of disease and conflict, with the outbreak of Ebola heightening more than the response.
The WHO DG said on X, there is no cure to the Ebola Bundibugyo virus, adding, tackling the transmission of the disease is wholly dependent on humanitarian access.
He said, with bombs “falling”, it will b difficult to “isolate” those affected by Ebola.
The statement released by Ghebreyesus on Wednesday 27 May, 2026 reads: “Eastern #DRC now faces a catastrophic collision of disease and conflict with the #Ebola outbreak in Ituri province outpacing the response.
“The Ebola Bundibugyo virus has no approved vaccine nor treatment. Stopping this Ebola transmission depends entirely on humanitarian access. Yet ongoing clashes are driving mass displacement, pushing exposed contacts into overcrowded camps and severing critical containment corridors.
“Frontline workers are risking everything, while attacks on health facilities make tracking cases and their contacts nearly impossible.
“We cannot build community trust or isolate the sick while bombs are falling.
“We urge all warring parties to agree to an immediate ceasefire to contain this outbreak. To allow us safe and sustained access for medical teams.”
Fighting in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is primarily happening in the mineral-rich eastern provinces (North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri), where the Congolese military (FARDC) and local militias are battling the M23 rebel group.
Photo: WHO DG, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
